AirPods Charging Case Battery Replacement

Written By: REWA

Comments: 9

AirPods Charging Case Battery Replacement

Difficulty

Very difficult

Steps

Time Required

1 hour

Introduction

Tools

Parts

AirPods 1st and 2nd Gen Charging Case Battery

Step 1

It is difficult to teardown the AirPods charging case because the charging case features 2 fixed points and the middle part is glued with adhesive. The charging case can easily be damaged by careless methods of dissasembly.

What exactly are these pictures supposed to be showing? I suppose it would make more sense to someone who has already torn down their case, but for those who have not, I find a picture to be worth a thousand words, yet a sentence or two worth of description to be most illuminating, as we don't have to figure out ourselves what is most important, this isn't art appreciation after all.

Thousand Sunny -

Great guideline. It helps me to replace the battery for my AirPods. Thank you.

Tony Lopez -

Step 2

There is currently no special repair tool for the AirPods. Therefore, we need to make a set of disassembly tools.
Be careful when handling sharp and thin metal as it can easily injure your hands.
Make a pry piece with a 0.1mm steel plate. Firstly, cut the steel plate into the shape of a pry piece with a pair of scissors.
Grind the edges of the pry piece with a sheet of sandpaper.

This is what I would consider a "careless method of disassembly." A few thin plastic picks work great at doing this step, no need to make your own, especially with metal (as that would be stupidity in action). Remember that plastic is safe for prying on plastic, metal isn't, and plastic is by far the safest for work involving lithium batteries, metal isn't. Fortunately, most electronics repair kits include several picks, both thin and thick. Also, with plastic there's no need for the kapton tape around the outside of the case.

Thousand Sunny - 28/08/24

Thin plastic picks are 0.5 mm. this step calls for 0.1 mm.

It's nice of iFixit to suggest something that they don't sell and don't provide a link for. Given the shapes they suggest creating, I'm unclear as to how plastic picks would work. It would require stretching the shell by 1.2 mm instead of 0.4 mm. presumably the tape is to limit the amount of stretch. It's not even clear why high temp tape is required since no heat is being applied. So, there doesn't really seem like the repair, as described, can actually be accomplished. The cost of the minimal tools + battery would be about $40 plus shipping. Apple will replace the case for $49. Seems like it would be crazy to attempt this unless you already have everything except the battery.

Doc -

Step 3

Bend the pry piece with a cutting nipper.
Use tweezers to make a shielding plate.

Step 4

To avoid damaging the charging case, wrap high-temperature tape around it.
Next, insert the pry piece into the seam of the two fixed points.
Use the pry knife to pry out a gap.

Step 5

Insert the shielding plate.
Insert the tweezers.

"Insert the shielding plate"... where?

"Insert the tweezers"... Why? Why are we putting metal tweezers into a plastic case (it's going to mar the plastic)? And why are we pointing sharp metal tweezers into the case containing a lithium battery? I don't remember reading a step saying "Discharge the battery before attempting this guide". Did I just miss it? If so, it must not have been very prominently visible.

Thousand Sunny -

Step 6

Wedge the special pry piece into the seam to pull out the docking tubes.
Please do not damage the flex cable while pulling out.

Step 7

If you still cannot open the case, you can build an extractor tool with two pieces of cable gland and two screws.

Step 8

Attach the charging case to the holder and dip a small amount of alcohol on the battery.
Pry up the battery with the pry knife and the battery connector with tweezers.
Then take out the battery flex cable.

Step 9

Take out the battery.
Using a multimeter is not required to successfully replace the battery.
Measured by the multimeter, the battery is found to have no voltage.
Get a new battery that has a stable voltage of 3.6v-4.0v.

Step 10

Attach the double-sided tape to the new battery.
Put the new battery into the charging case and connect the battery flex cable.

Step 11

Plug in the charging cable. The case should now charge normally once more.
Put the earbuds in. The earbuds should charge normally too.

Step 12

Peel off the double-sided tape and attach the battery to the case.
Install the docking tubes.

Step 13

Connect the AirPods to the phone. Both the charging case and AirPods can now be charged and used normally again.

Author

REWA

Member since: 24/11/20

15698 Reputation

4 comments

Opening the case is the most difficult part, did it with two cheap pealing knives. And for inserting the cable you will need tweezers and this will be fiddly. Batteries are available from aliexpress and youre case will be as new.

San der -

I feel like this guide could be a lot more descriptive and helpful, especially including tips on what to do and not do for each step, rather than assume we know exactly what you mean when you give each step in one sentence bearing half a dozen words or so. Also, there's absolutely no need to build a pair of pry tools, plastic picks work fine, and won't risk damaging either the case or the battery inside. Metal tools and lithium batteries are a no-no! Geez. With a pick wedged in the seam on each side of the case, like it shows in the picture, one final pick to the front seam can then safely pry out the holder from the case. Only the last pick will be used to pry, the other two just separate the inner case and outer case keeping the clips/catches unengaged, allowing for easy lifting/prying up and removal of the inner case.

Thousand Sunny -

Are really sure that can use it plastic picks!?

Paolo -

Great guideline. It helps me to replace the battery for my AirPods. Thank you.

Tony Lopez -